The Benefits of Yin Yoga

Protect Your Joints with Yin Yoga!

As we age one of the areas most affected in the body is the joints. Stiffness, popping, cracking soreness and pain are all common symptoms felt in the joints. Even those who exercise often may not be focusing as much on the joints and can experience the same symptoms. Something can be done! Yin Yoga is a slower, calmer method of yoga that targets the joints, ligaments and fascia tissue in the body. It is a natural, non-pharmaceutical method of rejuvenating your joints!

Yin vs. Yang Yoga

Lunar Yoga and Solar Yoga Styles

Most of us are more familiar with the Yang style of yoga which is faster paced and focuses on strengthening, stretching, and sweating. Yang yoga reigns over the muscular body. Vinyasa, Ashtanga, Bikram, Power, and many forms of Hatha are all considered Yang Yoga. Because of its warm, active qualities, Yang is most often associated with the sun; therefore, a solar practice.

Yin Yoga is concerned with the cooler, slower aspects. Yin yoga separates itself from muscular practice and settles into the firmer, less flexible areas of the body. The deeper, internal practice of Yin is often linked with the Moon, a lunar practice.

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Of course no practice is exclusively Yin or Yang, you will always use the joint tissue in a Yang practice, and some muscular energy in a Yin, but the primary focus is different. Just like the Yin Yang symbol there is a tiny bit of one style in the heart of its opposite.

Yin Yoga Benefits

The Purpose of Yin Yoga Poses

1. Joint Health – including increased blood flow to the joint tissues, providing more room in the joint, increasing flexibility of the tissues
2. Meditative – the longer, quiet holds of the postures allow time to cultivate a clam, peaceful meditative state
3. Perseverance – long periods of time in an uncomfortable posture allow the practitioner to become used to accepting “what is” in any given moment

Yin Yoga Methods

Learn How to Perform Yin Yoga at Home!

1. Move into the pose SLOWLY and to your first edge – Since you are working with ligament tissue that is not as flexible, it is important to be gentle when going into the postures. You will be holding the pose for several minutes, so start at your initial point of sensation.
2. Relax your muscles – Muscles protect the joints, so you will need to relax all the muscles around a joint to access the deeper tissues.
3. Remain still in the pose – Since fascia and joint tissue is rather inflexible you will have to hold still in the pose to give the tissues a chance to relax open.
4. Stay in the pose for several minutes – Inflexible tissues need extra time of gentle pressure to really be worked. Be patient – it is worth it!

Yin Yoga Poses

What Are Some Examples of Yin Yoga Postures?

                            Butterfly Pose

                          Shoelace Pose

                            Swan Pose

Yoga isn’t about being the most flexible, or athletic, or strongest – it is about reserving a space in your day to put everything else aside and spend some time in your body. Participation in yoga is an incredibly rejuvenating and healing activity. It is not just for the young and active – it’s for everybody! Those who are aging, recovering from an injury, dealing with weight issues, or even those with no time away from work can all do yoga, too!

Chair yoga is a form of yoga for those who need a little extra assistance or support in the poses. It is just as effective and recuperative than yoga on a mat! Do you have your chair ready? Let’s go!

Who Can Benefit From Chair Yoga?

Anyone!

If you find yourself sitting and feel the need for some rejuvenation, try a few Chair Yoga poses. Fold forward and let your hands and head hang. Enjoy the stretch across your shoulders and back of your neck. Chair Yoga is especially helpful if you are:

Extremely Inflexible

• Those with very tight hamstrings or inflexible spine might find yoga in a chair more comfortable and supportive while they work on increasing flexibility.

Recovering From an Injury or Surgery

• The pain of an injury may keep someone from performing the exercise they did previously. Doing Chair Yoga while recovering can maintain strength and flexibility until the person is able to get back to his or her regular exercise program.

Dealing With the Effects of Aging

• Chair yoga helps keeps muscles stronger, joints flexible, minds alert and improves balance.

Managing Weight Issues

• Chair yoga is an excellent way to ease back into an exercise routine and makes the poses more accessible and comfortable.

Working With a Chronic Illness

• Extended illnesses can rob one’s energy. Gentle exercise helps invigorate the body and build stamina while still allowing the body to heal.

Struggling To Get Away from Work

• Strapped for time and can’t get away from your desk? Stay in your chair, do a few postures and you’ll be re-energized for your next project.

Sample Chair Yoga Poses

Side Twists

Side twists are beneficial for spine flexibility and mobility. Also great for massaging and increasing the blood flow to the organs.

Downward-Facing Dog

Adho Mukha Svanasana is wonderful for strengthening the arms and shoulders, aligning the spine and improving mobility in the hips.

Warrior One

Virabhadrasana I is perfect for building strength in the legs and shoulders, mobility in the hips and alignment of the spine.

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Want to give yoga a try? See which type of yoga is right for you.

Yoga is an ancient and rich tradition dating back nearly 5,000 years. Since its start, yoga has been practiced throughout the world, changing and growing with the times. There are currently hundreds of different styles of yoga and deciding which one is right for you can be a daunting task.

Although there are many styles of yoga, they are all based on the same physical postures and all share a common lineage. The differences are usually about how the posture is aligned, coordinated with the breath and movement, or the flow from one posture to the next. No style is better than another; it’s simply a matter of finding what is right for you.

Throughout my personal yoga practice, I have explored many of the different styles of yoga and have found that depending on my mood or current life situation, one style ‘feels’ better than another at that time. I have created this lens to discuss a few of the different styles of yoga and hopefully this can help you decide which style might be right for you.

Vinyasa Style Yoga

Going With The Flow

Currently my favorite form of yoga is vinyasa flow. It also happens to be the most popular form of yoga in the United States today. Perhaps its popularity in recent times is due to the fact that it is a vigorous work out, moves quickly and is set to high paced and fun music.

Vinyasa flow is also sometimes called Ashtanga Vinyasa Yoga, Power Yoga, Yoga for Athletes, sometimes something like Yoga Boot Camp, or sometimes simply Flow.

The word Vinyasa means “breath-synchronized movement.” Synchronizing breathing and movement in the asanas (postures) heats the blood, cleaning and thinning it so that it may circulate more freely. Improved blood circulation relieves joint pain and removes toxins and disease from the internal organs. The sweat generated from the heat of vinyasa then carries the impurities out of the body. Through the use of vinyasa, the body becomes healthy, light and strong. In a vinyasa class, the teacher will instruct you to move from one pose to the next on an inhale or an exhale.

The vinyasa style allows for a lot of variety, and as such differs from teacher to teacher, city to city and studio to studio. There is no single philosophy, rulebook, or sequence that teachers must follow, so there is a lot of room for individual personalities and quirks to come through. Almost certainly though, all vinyasa style classes will include Sun Salutations. When Vinyasa is used as a noun during class, it describes a series of at least three poses that are done as part of a Sun Salutation sequence. For example in a possible sun salutation B, When the instructor says, “go through the Vinyasa at your own pace,” she means do warrior II, extended side angle and reverse warrior.

Another way to describe vinyasa flow yoga is in terms of the mental aspects of the class. The vinyasa practice itself is often considered a “moving meditation”. With time and practice, the sensations experienced in class can be simply observed, thoughts can pass through the body and mind and not be engaged. With the release of the constant chatter of the mind and the focus on the breath, we become present. In doing this, we connect to our true selves. At the very least, we learn how to be calm and peaceful in the midst of great challenge.

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Yoga provides us with a space where we can recognize the highest in ourselves and each other. Through yoga we tune in to the body, the mind and the spirit, allowing the truth that lies within each of us to rise, be heard and seen. We find our greatest potential. I invite you to join me on this journey on my Yoga Burn review site, the possibilities are unlimited!

Ashtanga Yoga

Following The Eight Limbs

Ashtanga yoga is a system of yoga recorded by the sage Vamana Rishi in the Yoga Korunta, an ancient manuscript. The text of the Yoga Korunta was imparted to Sri T. Krishnamacharya in the early 1900’s by his Guru Rama Mohan Brahmachari, and was later passed down to Pattabhi Jois during the duration of his studies with Krishnamacharya, beginning in 1927. Since 1948, Pattabhi Jois has been teaching Ashtanga yoga following the eight limbed path outlined by the sage Patanjali in the Yoga Sutras.

In Ashtanga yoga, asana or poses are grouped into six series. The Primary Series [Yoga Chikitsa] detoxifies and aligns the body, builds strength, flexibility and stamina. The series consists of about 75 poses beginning with sun salutations and moving on to standing poses, seated poses, inversions and backbends before relaxation.

The Intermediate Series [Nadi Shodhana] purifies the nervous system by opening and clearing the energy channels. It follows the same progression as the primary series but introduces new poses and variations.

The Advanced Series A, B, C, and D [Sthira Bhaga] integrate the strength and grace of the practice, requiring higher levels of flexibility and humility. Translated, Sthira Bhaga means divine stability. These series emphasize difficult arm balances and are only appropriate for extremely advanced students.

According to the practice, each level in the ashtanga series is to be fully developed before proceeding to the next, and the sequential order of asanas is to be meticulously followed. Poses in the latter series are not to be done until mastered as each posture is a preparation for the next, developing the strength and balance required to move further. Vinyasa using ujiayi (a form of yogic breath or pranayama) breathing is also followed while practicing ashtanga as is drishti (gaze).

BIkram Hot Yoga

Some Like it HOT

                           Woman doing Raja Yoga

Perhaps you have heard of Bikram yoga as hot yoga and it is indeed hot. An official Bikram studio with official Bikram teachers will have the room temperature set at 105 degrees. As you can imagine, a vigorous yoga session at this temperature promotes profuse sweating which rids the body of toxins. It also makes the body very warm, and therefore more flexible.

Your first experience in a Bikram yoga class you may find a bit uncomforatble, indeed, I nearly passed out my first time. After a few sessions however, you do become accustomed to the heat and begin to reap the benefits. I even practiced Bikram yoga (with certain modifications to certain poses) all throughout my pregnancy.

Living yoga master Bikram Choudhury, born in 1946, is the Bikram Yoga innovator. His method of ‘Hot Yoga’ is a set series of 26 yoga poses, including two pranayama exercises, each of which is performed twice in a single 90 minute class. The twenty-six asana series is designed to scientifically warm and stretch muscles, ligaments and tendons, in the order in which they should be stretched. The twenty six postures are performed in the same order and held for a specific amount of time during each class. According to Bikram, the twenty-six posture exercises done in sequence he prescribed systematically move fresh, oxygenated blood to one hundred percent of your body, to each organ and fiber, restoring all systems to healthy working order, just as nature intended. Proper weight, muscle tone, vibrant good health, and a sense of well-being will automatically follow.

Certain gyms, studios and classes may offer classes called ‘Hot Yoga’ and this does not mean they are Bikram yoga. Only those certified by Bikram himself at a certified Bikram yoga studio are permitted to use the Bikram name. It is still possible however to find ‘Hot Yoga’ classes that are pretty close if not exactly the same as a true Bikram class. Others may offer a 60 minute version of the class or classes in a heated room with additional postures.

Anusara Yoga

Flowing With Grace

Anusara means ‘flowing with grace’ and was founded recently (1997) by American yogi John Friend.

Anusara is a hatha based practice that also incorporates a vinyasa style flow. Emphasis is on heart opening through backbending and correct physical alignment. Each anusara class follows a theme determined by the instructor and it is hoped that the lessons learned in each yoga class will be brought to daily life. Each anusara class begins with an invocation/centering as a devotional recognition of the grace-bestowing power of universal spirit within and around us.

The practice of anusara yoga can be broadly categorized into three parts: attitude, alignment, and action.

Attitude, according to John Friend, is the “power of the heart as the force behind every action or expression in an asana.” It is “the aspiration to reawaken to our divine nature, and the celebration of life.”

Alignment, is the “mindful awareness of how various parts of ourselves are integrated and interconnected.” Alignment includes:

* Opening to Grace

* Inner Spiral

* Outer Spiral

* Organic Energy

The concept of Action is related to the body. Action, is the “natural flow of energy in the body, which provides both stability and joyful freedom.”

According to anusara, the highest expression of a yoga posture occurs when the body is aligned, the action is strong and balanced, and the attitude is spiritually pure and powerful.

Kundalini Yoga

Untap The Energy

Kundalini yoga is an ancient form of yoga however it is one of the newest forms of yoga to be practiced in the west. It was brought to the west by yogi Bhajan in 1969.

Kundalini is untapped energy which starts at the base of the spine and rises up through the body. As it is drawn up, each of the seven chakras is fully awakened. Full enlightenment occurs when this energy reaches the Crown Chakra. Kundalini energy is represented by a snake coiled at the base of the spine. Literally, ‘kundalini’ in Sanskrit is ‘That which is coiled.’ Sanskrit kund, “to burn”; kunda, “to coil or to spiral”. The serpent is considered to be female, coiled up three and a half times, with its mouth engulfing the base of the Sushumna Nadi. The Sushumna Nadi connects the base chakra to the crown chakra. A Nadi is a channel for the flow of consciousnes. According to the tantras there are 72,000 or more such channels or networks through which the stimuli flow like an electric current from one point to another.

Each Kundalini Yoga series is done in conjunction with a specific breath that intensifies the effects of the poses with the purpose of freeing energy in the lower body, Sushumna Nadi, and allowing it to move upwards. Kundalini sequences are called kirvas. Kirvas are exercises and breathing techniques intended to purify and cleanse the body’s energy channels. For instance, one kriya is to rapidly pump the stomach muscles in and out as if breathing but without taking a breath.

Kundalini is one of the more spiritual types of yoga. It goes beyond the physical performance of poses with its emphasis on breathing, meditation, and chanting. However, the Kundalini sequences are very physically intense. This type of yoga appeals to those who are up for both mental and physical challenges.

Hatha Yoga

The Original Yoga

Hatha yoga is a form of yoga first introduced by Yogi Swatmarama, a yogic sage in the 15th century in India. Usually when people refer to ‘yoga’ this is the form they are referring to. Hatha yoga is the most commonly practiced yoga and one of the most popular kinds of yoga. Several other styles of yoga including Power Yoga, Bikram Yoga, Ashtanga Yoga, and Kundalini Yoga all originated from the Hatha style.

The word “hatha” comes from the Sanskrit terms “ha” meaning “sun” and “tha” meaning “moon”. Thus, Hatha Yoga is known as the branch of Yoga that unites pairs of opposites referring to the positive (sun) and negative (moon) currents in the system. It concentrates on the third (Asana) and fourth (Pranayama) steps in the Eight Limbs of Yoga.

Hatha yoga has sometimes been referred to as the yoga of willpower as just doing it strengthens your will, an attribute of the mind. Holding the postures longer than in other forms of yoga allows you to experience being able to do more than expected. This builds confidence and self-esteem fostering a more positive mind. In addition, Hatha yoga allows you to become more relaxed in an otherwise stressful situation such as a difficult asana.

Hatha yoga also includes many relaxation exercises which open energy channels allowing the spiritual energy to flow freely. In addition, it can also help you cope with stress, relieve tension, and deal with anxiety and depression. More importantly, it will help you put your mind in a focused state to prepare for Meditation and, eventually, the search for enlightenment.

Energize, Stretch and Strengthen with Yoga

Yoga is an ancient and rich tradition which combines physical postures (asanas), breath work (pranayama) and meditation. Through the practice of yoga, we become aware of the interconnectedness between our emotional, mental and physical levels as we are drawn into the present moment through the concentration on breath and form.

Yoga has been an amazing practice for me as it has transformed me both in body, mind and spirit. This post highlights some of my favorite and most challenging yoga poses – the arm balances. Go ahead, give a few of them a try and explore the many benefits yoga has to offer.

Learn The Yoga Arm Balancing Poses – Scorpion

Ready for a Challenge? Here it is!

VRSCHIKASANA (SCORPION)

Vrschika = Scorpion; Asana = Posture

source: yogajournal

From forearm stand, knees are bent. Head is lifted and feet are brought close to the head in a deep backbend. Knees separate toes remain together.

Benefits of the posture:

* creates integration and balance between upper and lower body

* strengthens and stretches the legs and shoulders

* calms the nervous system

* strengthens arms and shoulders and aligns the shoulder girdle in relation to the trunk, pelvis and legs

* increases circulation to the torso, head and brain

* teaches the body to rest while in a state of activity

* develops a sense of inner balance

Learn The Yoga Arm Balancing Poses – Firefly

Have fun with this one!

BHUJA PIDASANA (FIREFLY)

Bhuja = Shoulder, arm; Pida = pressure; Asana = Posture

From a squat position, the hands are placed six inches in front of the feet. Torso is lengthened through the crown of the head as the shoulders are relaxed down away from the ears. Gaze is soft, forehead and chin relaxed, head in line with the spine. Arms are thread between the legs one at a time such that the hands rest on the floor behind the ankles with the finger tips facing forward. Backs of the knees rest on the upper arms and the knees then walk up toward the shoulder blades as far as possible. Feet are lifted off the earth. Thighs are pressed against the upper arms and the upper arms against the thighs to stabilize the pose. Feet are flexed.

Benefits of the posture:

* strengthens upper body

* good for digestion and elimination

* massages and regenerates the kidneys and adrenal glands

* supports the health of the prostate and pelvic floor

* good for hemorrhoids

Great Yoga Resource

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Learn The Yoga Arm Balancing Poses – Crow

This is the easiest one!

KAKASANA (CROW)

Kaka = Crow; Asana = Posture

From a squat position, hands are placed on the earth about one foot in front of the body with the arms about hip distance apart and parallel. Fingers are spread wide with a firm base of support between the thumbs and index fingers and the pads under the knuckles. Knees are drawn as close to the armpits as possible and rest on the triceps muscles. Knees press against the arms and arms press against the knees equally. Shoulder blades are relaxed down creating space across the front and back of the chest. Torso is lifted up and forward. Body comes forward as the weight of the legs and torso rest on the upper arms. Feet are lifted off the floor one at a time. Once the balance point is achieved, toes touch. As the pose is held longer, core strength is increased.

Benefits of the posture:

* builds strength and stamina, especially for the shoulder girdle

* massages abdominal organs

The Benefits of a Regular Yoga Practice

If You Can Breathe, You Can Do Yoga!

The benefits of yoga are many, from stress reduction to increased strength and flexibility and improved mental clarity. It truly does not matter if you are overweight, out of shape, inflexible, have never done yoga before, are a teen or a senior citizen, yoga is for everyone. There are many well documented benefits to a regular yoga practice.

Perhaps the most important and certainly the most noticeable benefit of a regular yoga practice is a reduction in stress. Yoga relaxes the mind, centers attention and sharpens concentration. This creates mental clarity and calmness.

Regular practice of yoga has been shown to help such diverse ailments such as diabetes, blood pressure, digestive disorders, arthritis, arteriosclerosis, chronic fatigue, asthma, varicose veins and heart conditions. According to medical scientists, yoga therapy is successful in doing this because of the balance created in the nervous and endocrine systems which directly influences all the other systems and organs of the body.

My personal favorite benefits of yoga are:

Posture: The very nature of yoga teaches the practitioner how to hold and control one’s body in a more healthful position. When I leave a yoga class, I stand tall, my head and heart are lifted and I feel fantastic.

Strength and flexibility: One of the premises of yoga is that you are using the weight of your own body for overall strength. Prior to my regular yoga practice, I was a mile away from touching my toes, now I get there with ease and then some.

Aging: Yoga stimulates the detoxification process within the body. Detoxification has been shown to delay aging. I certainly feel younger and more energized from the practice.

Weight: The exercise of yoga stimulates the metabolism which helps keep the weight in check. Additionally, the stretching of muscles longwise helps to reduce the amount of cellulite that can build around muscles.

Sleep: A lot of people find that the calming of the mind and body and release from stress allow for much better sleep.

Balance: An integral part of the yoga practice is balance and control over your body. I find that my balance in other athletic endeavors has improved overall as a result of my regular yoga practice. As we age and balance becomes increasingly more difficult this is a very important benefit.

If you are new to yoga and perhaps intimidated or uncertain about going to a yoga class at a gym or studio, it is possible to practice at home. Many books are available as well as on line instruction. Many instructors are available for private home practice. And finally, instructional DVDs and Downloads are available. Yoga Burn www.yogaburnforwomen.com provides such instruction from certified instructors who are dedicated to the conscious practice of yoga and would like nothing more than to see you enjoy the many wonderful benefits that yoga has to offer.

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Learn The Yoga Arm Balancing Poses – Side crow

Ready for a Challenge? Here it is!

PARIVRITTA KAKASANA (SIDE CROW)

Parivritta = Rotated, twisted; Kaka = Crow; Asana = Posture

From a squat position, thighs parallel to the floor. On the right side: The left elbow is brought to the outside of the right thigh. Torso is twisted to the right, and

source: yogajournal

left lower ribs are brought across the right thigh as far as possible. The back of the left arm slides down the outside of the right thigh, bringing the outer armpit as close to the outer thigh possible. The left upper arm slides several inches toward the right hip and presses firmly against the right thigh; maintaining this pressure, the upper arm is drawn back toward the right knee without allowing the skin to slide. The left palm rests on the floor just outside the right foot. If the hand doesn’t easily reach the floor, the torso is tipped to the right until the hand can be placed flat. Maintaining contact between your left upper arm and your right outer thigh, Torso leans even more to the right. Hands are shoulder width apart and positioned on an imaginary line drawn diagonally away from the right foot angled in the direction of the heel. Fingers are parallel to each other. Maintaining the point of contact between the left arm and right thigh the pelvis slowly lifts and shifts to the right. The middle of the abdomen is brought above and between the hands. Feet stay together and press out through their inner edges. Heels are drawn toward the buttocks. For the scissoring of the legs, the left hip is pulled strongly down and both feet are lifted up. Arms begin to straighten as the spine twists further. Head and chest are lifted and gaze is forward. More advanced variation weight is lifted off of the back hip and balance is on the right arm only.

Benefits of the posture:

* builds strength and stamina, especially for the shoulder girdle

* massages abdominal organs

Learn The Yoga Arm Balancing Poses – Peacock

Ready to try one more?

MAYURA (PEACOCK)

Mayura = Peacock; Asana = Posture

From a kneeling position, palms plant on the floor fingers turned back toward the torso (thumbs pointing out to the sides). Elbows are bent and outer forearms are drawn together. Front of the torso leans onto the backs of the upper arms as the elbows burrow deep into the belly at or below the navel. If the elbows slide apart they can be bound with a strap. The belly is firmed up against the pressure of the elbows. Knees straighten and legs stretch out behind the torso. Buttocks are firm and shoulders are slightly rounded downward. Head is lifted off the floor and gaze is forward. Weight shifts forward. Legs lift up off the floor as the weight is shifted and the belly and buttocks are firmed up.

Benefits of the posture:

* builds strength and stamina, especially for the shoulder girdle

* massages abdominal organs

* good for elimination

What is Grief?

Grieving is a side effect of loss. Each and every person experiences loss not only with death, but in the myriad of losses we go through every day. It could be a change in a job, a friend moves away, or even the plans you looked forward to all week fell through – All Loss leaves us in varying stages of grieving.

What Happens to Unexpressed Grief?

Unexplored Grief Creates Blockages in the Energy Centers of the Body

Unexpressed emotion remains stored in the fibers of the body. The energy of emotions should flow naturally and unhindered through the channels of the body, but often it is held deep, continuously circling its hiding spot.

This hidden grief may express itself as a headache, sore back, pinched nerve in the shoulder, stiff joints, or even as fatigue. Continuous repression of the grieving process (even the buildup of our smaller losses) will leave a person in chronic exhaustion and pain.

The purpose of this exploration is to encourage the compassionate examination of grief and to encourage the energy of the loss to flow through and out of the natural channels.

Therapeutic Chakra Yoga

Yoga Therapy Poses like Child’s Pose and Yoga Mudra Can Help Unblock Emotions

Unattended grief could be hiding anywhere. Even though there may be obvious symptoms, an initial session should explore each region of the body.

Method: Assist your client into each of the postures and stay present with them as they hold each posture. They are to experience the feel of each posture and remain in it long enough to observe the physical and emotional messages that arise (a minimum of 5 minutes).

ROOT: Loss, especially unexpected, can leave us feeling as if our legs were swept out from underneath us. The sense of safety and security gone. It’s time to reconnect.

Pose: Virasana (Hero’s Pose)

SACRAL: Grief can leave us feeling as if we cannot trust in the relationships around us leaving us feeling closed off and disconnected.

Pose: Baddha Konasana (Bound Angle Pose)

SOLAR PLEXUS: A feeling of powerlessness can hit a person after a loss. Time to reclaim a sense of personal power.

Pose: Jathara Parivrtti (Abdominal Twist)

HEART: Grieving is not only a side effect of loss, but also of love. What we love, we lose, and we grieve. Be especially careful with the Heart Chakra as much grief is stored in the heart often making it difficult to breathe.

Pose: Sphinx Pose

THROAT: Loss can literally take the words from us. We cannot begin to express the myriad feelings within and cannot envision the future ahead.

Pose: Matsyasana (Fish Pose)

BROW: The pain of grief can leave us guarded and distant. Can we surrender and accept our grief?

Pose: Balasana (Child’s Pose)

CROWN: Can we trust in a Higher Power and open up to the rest of the beauty and love in life?

Pose: Yoga Mudra

Final Savasana to let the energy flow throughout the body.

Finish the session with a discussion of the client’s experience. This will help you both to develop a plan for future sessions.

*Caution* One should never force or trick a person into examining their hidden pains until they are ready. This will force a person to close up tighter due to the unwelcome flooding of emotions. Even with a person who is willing to face their losses, it is still a journey to be taken gently, with much compassion and strong support.

What are Your Thoughts on Using Yoga to Assist the Grieving Process?

How often has grief touched your life? Which loss was the most difficult? Which grieving methods have helped you most?

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